Lighter for handbags and the like



March 30, 1965 T. J. HEINRICH 3,176,122

LIGHTER FOR HANDBAGS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 27. 1962 Meadore J. Heinrich /0 ,2 6 INVENTOR.

/.4" 4 I I a 9 BY United States Patent 3,176,122 LIGHTER FOR HANDBAGS AND THE LIKE Theodore J. Heinrich, 69 Safford St., Madison, Ohio Filed Aug. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 219,551 Claims. (Cl. 2406.45)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in lighters particularly for ladies handbags, purses, small overnight bags, etc., and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, novel means for automatically illuminating the interior of a handbag or the like and its contents when said handbag is opened.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an automatic illuminator of the aforementioned character which also functions as a latch for releasably securing the handbag, etc., in closed position.

Still another important object is to provide a handbag, etc., illuminator of the character set forth comprising a unit which is self-contained and adapted to be used as a conventional manually operated flashlight, if desired.

A further object is to provide an automatic handbag,

etc., illuminator wherein the component parts are readily accessible for removal and replacement when necessary.

Another object is to provide an illuminator or lighter of the character set forth which may be incorporated in the handbag, etc., at the time of manufacture or purchased separately and applied to a bag which is already in use.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an illuminator or lighter of the aforementioned character which is comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the ac companying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a handbag, showing a lighter embodying the present invention mounted thereon;

FIGURE 2 is a view in horizontal section through the device with the handbag in a closed position;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view substantially similar to FIGURE 2 but with the bag in open position; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that reference numeral 5 designates generally the upper portion of a conventional handbag of suitable flexible material. The handbag 5 may also be of any desired dimensions or capacity. The mouth of the bag 5 ineludes the usual U-shaped frames 6 and 7.

Secured longitudinally in any suitable manner on the frame 6 is a self-contained light unit 8. The unit 8 includes a cylindrical case 9 of suitable metal the rear end portion of which is closed by a removable screw cap or plug 10. The screw cap 10 has formed therein a segmental groove 11 for receiving a suitable coin or other device for turning said screw cap. At its forward or inner end the case 9 further includes an end wall 12 having an opening 13 therein.

Removably mounted longitudinally in the case 9 is a cylindrical tube 14 of a suitable transparent insulating plastic. The bore 15 of the tube 14 includes an enlarged or counterbored forward end portion 16 providing, at an intermediate point in said tube, a shoulder 17. Of course, the tube 14 is slidably inserted in the case 9 when the screw cap 10 is removed.

Removably mounted in the counterbore 16 of the tube 14 in abutting engagement with the shoulder 17 is a bulb or lamp socket or holder 18 of suitable metal. The socket or holder 18 has extending therethrough a threaded opening 19 for the reception of the screw base 20 of a suitable electric lamp 21. It will be observed that the central contact 22 of the lamp 21 is exposed at the rear of the holder or socket 18.

Slidably mounted in the bore 15 of the tube 14 is a battery 23. A coil spring 24 is seated in a recess 25 provided therefor in the screw cap 10 and said coil spring projects into the bore 15 of the tube 14 and is engaged under tension with the battery 23 for yieldingly urging said battery forwardly for engaging the contact 26 thereof with the lamp contact 22.

Mounted in the counterbore 16 of the tube 14 forwardly of the lamp holder or socket 18 is a housing 27 of suitable metal for the lamp 21, the interior of said housing being lined to provide a reflector. The housing 27 is provided in its lower portion with a window 28 (see FIG- URE 4). The window 28 is aligned with the window or opening 29 in the case 9.

Fixedly mounted in an opening 30 which is provided therefor in the forward end of the reflector or lamp housing 21 is the stem 31 of a combination pushbutton and latch 32. The pushbutton 32 is rounded to provide a cam surface. Also, the pushbutton 32, which is slidable in the opening 13, is elongated and conforms to the shape of said opening to facilitate correctly positioning the lamp housing 27 when assembling or servicing the unit.

Fixedly mounted longitudinally in any suitable manner on the other frame 7 of the bag 5 in alignment with the unit 8 is a substantially cylindrical keeper 33 of a suitable plastic or other material. The unit 8 and the keeper 33, it will be noted, are of substantially similar dimensions. The keeper 33, in the embodiment shown, is solid and the inner end thereof has formed therein a socket or depression 34 for the reception of the pushbutton or latch 32.

It is thought that the use or operation of the invention will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the tensioned coil spring 24 electrically engages the battery 23 with the lamp 21 and, additionally, yieldingly urges the assembly 23, 18, 27, etc., forwardly to project the pushbutton and latch 32 to the position of FIGURE 3 of the drawing. When the purse or handbag is closed as in FIGURE 2 of the drawing, the pushbutton 32 seats in the recess 34 and the frames 6 and 7 are thus releasably secured in closed position. The construction and arrangement, it will be observed, is such that the lamp housing or reflector 27 is spaced from the end wall 12 of the case 9. Accordingly, the lamp 21 is not energized. However, when the handbag is opened as in FIGURE 3 of the drawing, the button 32 is released and the spring 24 instantly moves the assembly 23, 18, etc., forwardly in the case 9 for contacting the lamp housing or reflector 27 with the forward end wall 12 of said case. In this manner the circuit is closed for energizing the lamp 21. When the purse is again closed the button 32 cams on the inner end of the keeper 33 and snaps into the recess 34 for again latching the purse in closed position. Also, the lamp housing or reflector 27 is disengaged from the forward end wall 12 of the case 9 thereby again opening the circuit and deenergizing the lamp 21. When the lamp 21 is energized light therefrom passes through the windows or openings 28 and 29 and the transparent tube 14 for illuminating the interior of the handbag in an obvious manner.

As hereinbefore indicated, the members 8 and 33 may be secured in any suitable manner on the frames 6 and 7.

7 adapted to serve as handles or grips.

With the handbag closed the units 8 and 33 are also Still further, the units 8 and 33 may be ornamented as may be desired and of any suitable colors. The construction and arrangement also is such that the unit 8 is readily usable as a flashlight for locating keyholes, lost articles and for other purposes. To service the unit 8 a coin is'inserted in the groove 11 and the screw cap is removed from the rear end of the case 9. The complete assembly 14,

18, etc., may then be readily slipped out of the case 9' for permitting removal and replacement of the battery 23 or the lamp 21 when necessary. As hereinbefore inor the like. When the unit 8 of the embodiment shown is used in the manner of a conventional flashlight the circuit is normally maintained closed and the lamp 21 energized by the spring 24. To extinguish the lamp the button 32 may be conveniently depressed with a finger or thumb of the hand which grips the case 9.

Thus, the assembly 23, 18, etc., is retracted to the position of FIG- URE 2 of the drawing against the tension of the spring 24 for disengaging the member 27 from the end Wall 12 of the case 9. When the button 32 is depressed, either manually or by the member 33, the engagement of the lamp socket or holder 18 with the shoulder 17 operatively connects the member 27 to the tube 14. It will be observed that the elements 32, 27, etc., provide what may be considered a normally closed switch in the circuit of the flashlight unit 8. The units 8'and 33 may, of course, be of various shapes. I

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use on a container including a pair of pivotally connected closure frames, a lighter for the container comprising a flashlight including a metallic case having an opening therein mounted on one of the frames, a removable tube of insulating material removably mounted in said case and having a counterbore in one end portion providing a shoulder, a metallic lamp holder slidably inserted in the counterbore and abutting the shoulder, an electric lamp in said holder, a'metalliereflector for the the holder and adapted to contact the case, a battery, a coil spring in the case engagediwith one terminal of the battery for electrically biasing the other terminal of the same in engagement with the one terminal of the lamp, for engaging the reflector with the case and for'electrically connecting said'battery to said case for. energizing'said lamp, and a pushbutton on' the reflectorproj'ecting' through the opening and providing means for disengaging the reflector from the case for deenergizing the lamp, and means lamp slidably inserted in the counterbore and abutting on the other frame for engaging said pushbutton and deenergizing said lamp in response to closing of the frames, said means having a recess for releasably latching said frames in closed position.

2. A flashlight in accordance with claim 1, and wherein said tube is transparent, said reflector and said case having registering windows therein for the passage of light from the lamp.

3. For use on and in conjunction with a handbag or the like having an openable and'. closable mouth characterized by a pair of pivotally connected complemental closure frames, a lighter for the container portion of said handbag comprising a metallic flashlight case having an opening at one end, said case being fixedly mounted on one of the frames, a removable tube made of insulating material, said tube being removably mounted and confined in said case and the axial bore thereof having a counterbore in one end portion providing a socket, a metallic lamp holder slidingly inserted in said socket, an electric lamp carried by said holder, a metallic reflector for the lamp also slidably inserted insaid socket and abutting the holder and normally spaced from but adapted to electrically contact an end portion of said case, a dry cell battery mounted in the bore of said:tube, a coil spring also in the bore engaged with one terminal of the battery for electrically biasing the other terminal of the same into engagement with the lamp and also for engaging the reflector with the case and for electrically connecting said battery to said case for energizing said lamp, and a pushbutton on the reflector projecting through the aforementioned opening and providing means for disengaging the reflector from the case for deenergizing the lamp.

4. The structure defined in claim 3. and wherein said flashlight case and component parts embodied therein have the additional function of a keeper for assisting in opening and closing said frames and in keeping the frames closed when desired, and in combination, complemental keeper means fixedly mounted on the other frame and having a recess in one endportion for releasably seating .and engaging said pushbutton and having the additional function of deenergizing the lamp in response to closing theframes. i Y

5. The structure definedin claim 4 and wherein said tube is made of transparent material, said reflector and also said case having aligned and registering windows therein cooperable with said lamp and permitting the passage of light from'the lamp into the container portion of saidhandbag by Way of the aforementioned registering windows.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. FOR USE ON A CONTAINER INCLUDING A PAIR OF PIVOTALLY CONNECTED CLOSURE FRAMES, A LIGHTER FOR THE CONTAINER COMPRISING A FLASHLIGHT INCLUDING A METALLIC CASE HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN MOUNTED ON ONE OF THE FRAMES, A REMOVABLE TUBE OF INSULATING MATERIAL REMOVABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CASE AND HAVING A COUNTERBORE IN ONE END PORTION PROVIDING A SHOULDER, A METALLIC LAMP HOLDER SLIDABLY INSERTED IN THE COUNTERBORE AND BUTTING THE SHOULDER, AN ELECTRIC LAMP IN SAID HOLDER, A MATALLIC REFLECTOR FOR THE LAMP SLIDABLY INSERTED IN THE COUNTERBORE AND ABUTTING THE HOLDER AND ADAPTED TO CONTACT THE CASE, A BATTERY, A COIL SPRING IN THE CASE ENGAGED WITH ONE TERMINAL OF THE BATTERY FOR ELECTRICALLY BIASING THE OTHER TERMINAL OF THE SAME IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ONE TERMINAL OF THE LAMP, FOR ENGAGING THE REFLECTOR WITH THE CASE AND FOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING SAID BATTERY TO SAID CASE FOR ENERGIZING SAID LAMP, AND A PUSHBOTTOM ON THE REFLECTOR PROJECTING THROUGH THE OPENING AND PROVIDING MEANS FOR DISENGAGING THE REFLECTOR FROM THE CASE FOR DEENERGIZING THE LAMP, AND MEANS ON THE OTHER FRAME FOR ENGAGING SAID PUSHBOTTON AND DEENERGIZING SAID LAMP IN RESPONSE TO CLOSING OF THE FRAMES, SAID MEANS HAVING A RECESS FOR RELEASABLY LATCHING SAID FRAMES IN CLOSED POSITION. 